diff --git a/panda/src/audiotraits/openalAudioSound.cxx b/panda/src/audiotraits/openalAudioSound.cxx
index da379bfd5c..9abaf24036 100644
--- a/panda/src/audiotraits/openalAudioSound.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/audiotraits/openalAudioSound.cxx
@@ -435,7 +435,11 @@ pull_used_buffers() {
   ReMutexHolder holder(OpenALAudioManager::_lock);
   while (_stream_queued.size()) {
     ALuint buffer = 0;
-    alGetError();
+    ALint num_buffers = 0;
+    alGetSourcei(_source, AL_BUFFERS_PROCESSED, &num_buffers);
+    if (num_buffers <= 0) {
+      break;
+    }
     alSourceUnqueueBuffers(_source, 1, &buffer);
     int err = alGetError();
     if (err == AL_NO_ERROR) {